Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-03-28
THE FRUIT CROP DAMAGED.
Reports From the Most Important
Growers.


dtL1ntd fGd,) Cor. Mdc2n TELEGRAPH,
At this season of the year there is al
ways some apprehension and usually
alarming reports about the fate of the
fruit crop. The recent protracted aud Sc
we're cold weather has had the effect of
stimulating apprehension to an unusual
degree, and some Investigations of the sub.
ject which l have been able to make will
be OF general interest. Commissioner
Henderson, of the Agricultural Depart
ment, has been besieged with questions
on the subject, and several days ago sent
out to a number of fruit growers
request to report to him the eff
feet Of the recent cold on the
fruit crop. He received to-day batch of
replies which contain important and re-
liable information. Parnell of West
Berckmans Of Augusta, are considered
authorities on questions relating to fruit
and their opinions Of the present outlook
may be taken as entitled to weight. Mr..
Parnell, who is the largest fruit grower
in the State, seems to have suffered more
serious injury than Is reported from other
sections, and is hardly looking for more
than One-eighth of crop, although the
all-round fruit crop may come up to a
bulUhe
from such observation as he has made
that there has been no serious injury to
fruit in this county. l give below the re-
plies received by Judge Henderson;
WHAT FRUIT GROWERS SAY.
"MARsHALLvILLE, March 23.-HOn. L.
j. Henderson, Atlanta, Ga: DEAR SIR
Yours of the I'D to hand. The peach crop
in this section has not been injured to
any great extent by the recent cold wave.
"AlIlong- stemmed fruit, such as apples,
pears, plums, etc., have been injured by
the continued cold dry winds checking
the flow of sap and causing stems to
shrivel; but still, from present indica-
tons, think we will have a fair crop.
Strawberries have suffered most from
frost. Yours, very respectfully,
SAMUEL IL. KUMPH."
"AUGUsTA, March 23.--DEAR SIR:
cannot estimate the damage TO the fruit
crop until a few days more elapse: but,
judging from present appearances,
little damage is done SO far in my orch
ards. Respectfully.
"P. j. BERCKMANs."
Mr.. o. A. Coleman, OF Americas,
writes: "Some peach trees have been ill.,
jured-kllled, but no general damage done
in this section, to the best OF nay informa-
tion."
Col. IL. d hOstb, VI lUdhtb
the following report: 'The fruit with me
Is all right. 1 don't know how 1t is in
the low grounds, as l seldom go of the
place. But we have had such windy and
dry weather, that L would think fruit
generally safe. Ny experience is that
early blooms promise safe crop. Kill
ing frosts are generally late in March or
April, When trees bloom very early the
size OF fruit and open foliage protect
them"
PARNELL'S OPINION.
John FL. Parnell, OF West Point, the
great fruit grower says: 'It is impossi-
Bile to tell for some days the real damage
done, as the weather is so dry you cannot
tell before the bad fruit is shed, leaving
the more perfect fruit behind. Even then
you cannot be sure about the damage
until the fruit ripens. A large proper
ton OF seemingly good fruit now
fall before ripening, hence the great
! dif4culty OF getting at the
real damage now. ] examined all the po-
| sitions and varieties OF my peaches and
| find that The early varieties blooming last
| are not much hurt on the high hills, but
| are pletely killed on the lower eleva-
| ton. Some OF the later varieties have es-
| capped in streaks on the high ridges. but
| are all zone at lower elevation. lhave "A
ROOu mduy IiSc1 bhVARE Pl"ANOA oiNhf'
| branches, close to water, which are not
| hurt much, strange to say, but above the
water courses and up TO a certain eleva-
| ton, before you reach the extreme high
elevation, | think the killing IL complete.
do not look for more than one-eighth OF
/ a crop, perhaps one-fourth OF q crop all
around. Wild goose plums promise a
large crop. The common peaches are
nearly all killed, as far as J have ex-
| amined."
Hon. w. A. Harris, OF Worth, writes:
"We have he'd five or ak freezes conseo-
utively and fruit is about ruined. My
LeConte pears have not half dozen on a
tree. Peaches and plums OF the size
send you are dropping of-90 per cent.
gone. AS to gardens, they are non est
inventus-gone where the woodbine twi-
meth"
DIR. SAMUEL HAPE's VIEWS.
After reading these sought DR.. Hape,
OF Hapeville, who has an office in the
city. DR.. Hape is q prominent and sue
oessful fruit grower, and his study, eXpe-
rieuce and practical observation make
his opinion on the subject OF value.
asked him TO what extent he Thought the
fruit crop OF this immediate section bad
been affected by the recent cold weather.
DR.. Hape said:
"My candid opinion is that the fruit
crop In this section ~ materially injured,
especially the peaches. IL ~, OF course,
impossible 10 determine at present just
TO what extent the trouble has gone. be-
cause the trult will keep dropping OF
80. - xlSf--,l .xIllill az lhs